one designer. eight questions. outside the white box.
What’s on your desk right now, can you paint us a picture in words?
Lots of prototypes, the year tends to go in phases, I work on a number of products all with the same release date. This means at any one time of the year I am typically in a different phase. Looking forward to production and then getting into the photographic studio next month.
What’s so great about where you work and how does it help you to create?
Location and people. We have an open plan warehouse style studio in Melbourne CBD shared with 2 architectural companies, Nest and MTRN Architects. Always something going on here and the city has a great buzz.
Your furniture and lighting is all made in Melbourne. Is this because Melbourne is your home, or is Melbourne still your home because your furniture is made here?
The business is committed to local manufacture and it makes it easy if the companies / artisans I work with are driving / riding distance away. I also get some components in Sydney however even this can add transport costs which need to be absorbed by the product which can be challenging with smaller batch runs.
What ‘design tool’ could you not live without?
I wish it was something more interesting however it’s my MacBookPro. I still sketch a lot however the majority of design work is done on the computer.
If you could know one thing from 100 years in the future, what would it be (not the lotto numbers unless you’ve got something super awesome you’d do with the winnings)?
I suppose I am interested in the lifestyle of someone living in 2114, with 2070 projected to be a 4 degree rise in temperature and the tipping point for maintaining our current lifestyle, I wonder how we will adapt.
Which of your (design) babies do you love the most and why?
Changes from time to time however the Flint Table is one of my earlier pieces and still a favourite.
What is a design trend that you don’t like and why?
I suppose I am not into trends generally, I like honest use of materials and design that challenges preconception.
What item of furniture (or other design) is at the top of your wish list and why?
I would not mind a Lighthouse lamp.
Quick bytes:
Favourite food: Italian
Favourite movie: La Samourai
Favourite band/artist: Don’t know about favourite however am currently addicted to Kurt Ville
Favourite city: NewYork
Favourite designer: Bouroullec Brothers
Favourite painting: Metamorphosis of Narcissus
Favourite book: The Great Shark Hunt
Favourite magazine: Habitas
Work by Ross Gardam
Profile: Ross Gardam
Ross Gardam is an Australian furniture and lighting company established in 2007. Each product is hand crafted in Melbourne, Australia, by local artisans and makers. Pairing traditional craft techniques with high end manufacturing technology results in products which are elegant, accessible and made for today. All products are designed by Ross Gardam and embody a unique contemporary aesthetic.
Ross Gardam has worked extensively in environmental, interior and product design. He has worked for a number of large commercial firms in Australia and abroad to develop beautifully simple design solutions to complex problems.
Gardam has designed, developed and exhibited a number of acclaimed furniture and lighting products. Much of his early work involved efficiency in material use and exploration of sustainable design principles. He works alongside local manufacturers and artisans to bring his products to fruition. Gardam is currently working with Stylecraft, one of Australia’s leading product distributors.
